Race car safety

In what years were certain safety features introduced to racing? For example, I first recalled seeing small and thin roll hoops introduced in the early 1960s. Later seat belts came on the scene. In I970 believe Bell introduced the full face helmet with Dan Gurney. When were fire systems bought onto the scene?

I looking for the major safety milestones and the events that might have prompted them.

We've covered some of these before. We concluded that Dan Gurney was the first driver to wear a full-face helmet in top-level racing, at the 1968 Indy 500, but they'd been used earlier in more minor categories:

We've covered some of these before. We concluded that Dan Gurney was the first driver to wear a full-face helmet in top-level racing, at the 1968 Indy 500, but they'd been used earlier in more minor categories:

While I can't comment on FI, by 1959, roll bars and seat belts were required for all cars in SCCA races. Our Team Roosevelt Abarths all had the roll bars anchored securely to the floor and had aircraft-style fabric belts with the buckle of the kind found on passenger planes. After a nasty accident in which a car caught fire and the fabric fused to the buckle so the driver couldn't get out, seat belts had to have metal-to-metal fasteners. Our crew chief raided surplus stores getting seat belts with the required buckles.

I remember that for SCCA Trans-Am racing beginning in 1968, I needed a fuel cell for the car and a Nomex single layer driver suit with Nomex underwear (which I have saved for some reason - not a chance of it fitting now).

1.7.37 "Compulsory safety helmets. A letter from the JCC was read suggesting that the use of safety helmets in all speed events should be made compulsory. The Committee decided to hear the views of the BRDC on the matter before taking any action.

5.8.37 "Safety Helmets. A letter from the B... R... D... C... was read regarding the compulsory use of safety helmets in speed events. It was agreed that the RAC delegates should bring the matter forward for discussion at the next meeting of the CSI"

9.12.37 "Compulsory Use of Goggles. A letter from B... A... R... C... was read suggesting that a new General Competition Rule should be adopted making the use of goggles or other forms of eye protection compulsory in motor races. It was decided to consult the BRDC as to the desirability of such a rule and also to give notice of a motion ... at the next meeting of the CSI."

2.3.38 "A reply to the letter from the Club to the BRDC on the subject of the compulsory use of goggles in motor races was read. It was decided to take no further action in the matter."

Then I believe nothing until:

27.9.50, "Provided it was internationally agreed the RAC Delegates [to CSI] would support the compulsory wearing of crash helmets"